Writing a Rockstar Personal Statement for College Apps

Ah, the Common App Personal Statement. It’s like the final boss in a video game, but instead of a sword, you’ve got a keyboard, and instead of saving the world, you’re trying to impress a bunch of college admissions folks. No pressure, right? But don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Let’s break it down and make it as straightforward as possible.

First Things First: What’s the Point?

Your personal statement is your chance to share something unique about yourself—something not found in or represented by your grades and resume. It’s where you share who you are and what makes you tick, and often is more important and affecting than the rest of your metrics. Your personal statement can be what takes a B student to Harvard, and make competitive students stand out against the pack. 

So here’s what you’ll want to do: 

• Paint a picture of who you are and what you bring to the table. Telling a story or giving examples is often more impactful than listing achievements.

• Complement the rest of your application. Think of your personal statement as the piece that ties everything together, creating a cohesive narrative about you.

• Work on it early in the process. Having a solid, polished version of your personal statement by August 1st allows you to both take advantage of summertime and address other aspects of your application, like supplemental essays. 

Choosing Your Topic:

The Common App gives you seven prompts to choose from, ranging from a significant background or talent to an open-ended “topic of your choice.” Here’s how to narrow it down:

1. Major Brainstorm:

   • Defining Moments: What events have shaped you? (e.g., moving to a new city, discovering a new hobby).

   • Time Investments: What activities have you dedicated your time to, and why?

   • Inspiration: Who or what inspires you, and how has that inspiration influenced your actions?

   • Pride: What accomplishments or qualities are you proud of?

2. Shortlist Your Ideas:

   • Pick your strongest ideas—usually 2-4.

   • Your favorites will likely be the easiest to expand on, feel true to who you are as a person, and demonstrate an interesting personal quality (and story!) not otherwise seen in your application. 

3. Freewrite:

   • Spend 15 minutes freewriting about each shortlisted topic. Don’t worry about structure—just let your thoughts flow. This helps identify which topic has the most potential.

Writing it out: 

Now that you have your topic, let’s dive into how to write your essay successfully. 

1. Be Authentic:

   • Write in a genuine tone that reflects who you are. Avoid using big words just to impress—clarity and sincerity are key. Remember, the whole point is to show off who YOU are!

2. Story Structure:

   • Story: Show, don’t tell. Share an anecdote or specific event, and don’t be afraid to be a little descriptive!

   • Implication: Explain why this story is important to who you are.

   • Connection: Relate this, explicitly or indirectly, to what you would bring to the table as a student. Or why you want to study what you do. 

3. Time for Drafts: 

   • After writing that first draft, take at least a daylong break before revising. You’ll want to go through a couple drafts to make sure that it’s as great as it can be, so don’t rush through this part of the process. Fresh eyes catch mistakes, improve clarity, and generally allow for better writing.. 

4. Seek Feedback:

   • While it may feel personal, and it should, try to ask a friend, counselor, or parent to review your essay. Here’s a tip to protect your heart and more effectively receive revisions: rather than opening the door to all their critiques, ask editors to read through for something specific, like tone, sense-making, or representation. 

Now, nobody can write this thing but you! But don’t worry, you’re going to crush it, especially if you give your personal statement some time, attention, and patience. Work through any frustrations that arise with deep breaths, positive thoughts, and fresh air.  Be true to yourself; you are unique in your interests, strengths, and what you can add to a college’s student body. Now’s the time to show it!

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